Recent Industry News

RECENT NEWS & OPINION FROM NODPA

ADDED APRIL 2, 2010

Grain Price Updates
The latest corn and soybean prices, and grain price trends over the past four years. MORE >

NOSB ventures to the West
For the first time in many years the USDA NOP National Organic Standards Board will meet outside of Washington DC. The next meeting of the NOSB will be on April 26-29 at Heidrick Ag History Center, 1962 Hays Lane, Woodland, CA 95776. For more details, click here.

NODPA Awarded Grant From OFRF

The Organic Farming Research Foundation (OFRF) awarded NODPA a grant of $12,000 for a one year project that will organize the NODPA website archives, making information more easily accessible, searchable and downloadable for certified and transitioning organic dairy producers and professionals serving the needs of organic dairy producers. MORE >

Current Research On Molasses As An Alternative Energy Source For Organic Dairy Herds
As organic grain prices have increased and organic milk prices have decreased, dairy farmers are seeking lowercost supplementation strategies. Sugarcane molasses, a rich source of sucrose, seems to be a viable option as a source of energy.
MORE >

Recent ODairy Discussions
The NODPA Odairy listserve has some very spirited discussions about different aspects of the new rule plus many other issues. Liz Bawden summarized some of the posts during January and February. MORE >

Pasture Rule Training March 24, 2010:
A highlight of questions asked, the responses, and further ruminations on the NODPA-Odairy discussion list. Click here for more.

USDA Dairy Industry Advisory Committee (DIAC) to hold first meeting
The long awaited and anticipated first public meeting of the DIAC will take place April 13, 14 and 15th at the USDA’s Whitten Building, Rooms 104 A and 107A, Washington, DC 20250. MORE >

Economic Analysis of Organic
Dairies Coming Soon
The 2008 results of an on-going financial analysis of Vermont’s organic dairy sector by UVM and NOFA-VT have recently been published and Bob Parsons gives us a preview of his upcoming article in the May NODPA News.

PASTURE RULE RESOURCES, ADDED IN MARCH:

Let them Eat Grass

The Pasture Rule is published and the first USDA NOP Pasture Rule Training, covering requirements and resources, was a success. There are other trainings scheduled for different parts of the country, which will be open for certifiers, inspectors, producers and resource professionals. Below are a collection of Pasture Rule resources you'll find very helpful, including a fully updated "Pasture Rule Resource Page."

Pasture Rule Resource Page
Added March 8, 2010. We're continually updating this resource page with new record keeping forms, articles and links to outside resources.

New NOP Pasture Regulation Meets Expectations of Organic Community
Added March 8, 2010. Harriet Behar answers key questions about the Pasture Rule.

Pasture Rule Draws Bright Line
Benefiting Cows & Consumers
Added March 8, 2010. Sam Fromartz reflects on why the fight for the Pasture Rule was so contentious, and what we've gained by passing it.

WEBINAR BY eORGANIC
Added March 8, 2010. A Look at the Newly Released Organic Pasture Rule. Join us for a Webinar on March 17, 5:00 PM to 6:15 PM EDT.

Upcoming Pasture Rule Trainings: Three Pasture Rule trainings are being offered in March and April, taking place in New York, Colorado and California. Producers, certifiers and resource professionals are encouraged to attend. Registration required. Please go to the NOP site for more details.

Highlights from the First Pasture Rule Training
Added March 8, 2010. On February 25, 2010, the NOP held its first of what will be four trainings on the new Pasture Rule. Read this article to learn more about what took place.

Online Resources for Dairy Producers
Added March 8, 2010. Six great resources, from grazing videos to veterinary workshop recordings. MORE >

Articles & Resources Added In February

Keyline plow article sparks discussion
Added February 1, 2010. An article in our January newsletter on the Keyline Plow and its role in soil building has spurred some lively discussion on the NODPA-Odairy discussion list. Click here to read the article by March Krawczyk ... and click here to visit the NODPA-Odairy archives at to follow the thread of conversation that has been happening so far. (If you're registered on O-Dairy, you'll need to log in, then, under "List Name," select ODAIRY. You'll see a list of months. Click on the most recent. If you're not registered on ODairy, go to the listserv page on our web site. There are instructions there for joining, as well as printable instructions.)

Pastureland Cooperative Interviews NODPA Director
Added February 1, 2010. Pastureland Cooperative interviewed Ed Maltby on the proposed new pasture rule. To read the interview, go to:  

http://www.pastureland.coop/Ed+Maltby

Successful Vermont Organic Dairy Farmer Must Sell 200 Cow Farm Because Of Health Issues
Added January 25, 2010. Click here to learn more about this opportunity.

Homeopathy: The Mechanics and Its
Application for the Dairy Farm, Part 1
Added February 1, 2010. Of the therapeutic options available to the organic dairy, homeopathy stands alone in its elegance and simplicity. MORE >

Organic dairy farmers win
Good Farm Neighbor Award
Added February 1, 2010. Organic dairy farmers Joe and Tom Molitor have been named the December winners of the Minnesota Department of Agriculture's (MDA) Good Farm Neighbor Award. More >

Announcement of Position Available
Added February 1, 2010. Organic Dairy Production and Management, Assistant/Associate Professor, University of Minnesota Department of Animal Science.
Learn more >

Crop Rotation on Organic Farms:
A Planning Manual

Added February 1, 2010. “Crop Rotation on Organic Farms: A Planning Manual” provides an in-depth review of the applications of crop rotation-including improving soil quality and health, and managing pests, diseases, and weeds.
Learn more >

Resources for the Pasture Rule
In anticipation of the new rule, NODPA has created a Pasture Rule Web Page so that Producers, Certifiers and other Professionals can prepare for a pasture rule that has some teeth in it. The page includes historical documents such as the FOOD Farmers Access to Pasture Recommended Standards (August, 2007), and NODPA's complete Pasture Rule Comments (submitted to the NOP in December 2008). Also on this page you will find useful documents on dry matter calculations, record keeping worksheets for pasture consumption, Organic System Plan (OSP) documentation already being used by Vermont Organic Farmers, LLC (VOF), and more. We will continue to post resources and links as they are made available to us and will update the page regularly with pertinent information.
Click here to visit the resource page.

Added January 11, 2010:

Organic Pay Price

Added January 11, 2010. The full effect of the downturn in demand for organic dairy is being felt by all producers, with no one under the illusion that the situation will improve quickly. Consumer demand is still slightly negative, although there are regional and seasonal fluctuations in sales of fluid milk on a monthly basis; there are only two national buyers for wholesale organic milk; many producers are on short contracts; pay price has dropped; and smaller independent handlers and cooperatives are making difficult decisions about their futur;. Many well established organic dairies that have a good history of working with their processor will have a reasonable year financially but there will be many that have to make difficult personal and professional choices with limited options in 2010. The principal challenges for organic dairy are to manage supply, based on modest and reasonable growth and to balance production by growing a diverse number of organic dairy products rather than relying on the non-organic market to balance any surplus. Organic milk is now a commodity in search of a secure market, with all the problems of a commodity that we know so well from the non-organic milk market. MORE DETAILS>

Organic Feed Summary

Added January 11, 2010. The weather has had a considerable effect on the harvesting as the Midwest has been subjected to wet weather followed by heavy snow storms. With prices at their lowest point in the last two years and very little grain and feedstuff being traded on the organic market, producers are waiting to see what the New Year brings. Wheat trade is at a near standstill and there are confirmed cases of wheat affected with vomitoxin and sprouting in the eastern states. Corn has had some low test weights as the harvest has progressed. MORE DETAILS >

Upcoming Winter Conferences
Added January 11, 2010. Winter time is a great time of year to plan for the coming growing season, network with fellow producers and go to meetings or conferences. We have compiled dairy workshop highlights taking place at some of the more popular winter conferences in the Midwest and the Northeast. For many of these, it is common to tape record the sessions, so if you cannot make it to these events, perhaps you can get a dvd or audio recording of some of these interesting workshops. Learn more >

Recent Discussions On ODairy
Added January 11, 2010. Calf blankets, round bale unrollers, lamnitis, drug treatments in milk, de-wormers, rescuing a hypothermic calf, the
milk-per-acre concept, linebreeding, and anaphylactic shock from vitamins. MORE >

Invaluable Dairy Handbook Just Released From NOFA-NY
Added January 11, 2010. Whether you are transitioning to organic, have been certified organic for years, or are a consultant providing services to organic dairy/transitioning dairy clients, The Organic Dairy Handbook: A Comprehensive Guide to Transition and Beyond is a wonderful resource. MORE >

Summary of Concerns Regarding A1 and A2 Milk and Dairy Breed Rankings
Added January 11, 2010. Questions and answers about milk rankings. Learn more >

Alfred State Picks Site for New Dairy
Added January 11, 2010. Alfred State College announced the site selected for its new facilities to teach dairy production. Learn more >

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Added December 3, 2009

Producer Handler rule comment
period ends December 21
On October 21st, 2009, USDA issued a recommended decision that, if it becomes rule, would require producer-handlers marketing more than 3 million pounds of fluid milk products each month to be subject to the same pooling and pricing provisions as fully regulated handlers in all Federal Milk Marketing Orders. Currently, all producer-handlers are exempt. If this USDA recommended decision comes to fruition as rule, it has potential to have an impact on the organic dairy marketplace. For more information click here to read Kathie Arnolds article.

At the USDA, What Does Change Mean?
For the first time, advocates can lobby for real change in one sector of the market; organic and sustainable agriculture - and get an ear at the highest levels of the USDA, says Sam Fromartz. MORE >

Promiseland's Organic
Certification Revoked for 4 Years
The USDA Administrative Law Judge supported NOP’s revocation of one of the largest organic livestock and grain operations, Promiseland Livestock, LLC. The judge ruled that they would lose their organic certification for 4 years for failure to supply documentation to back up their organic certification. Click here to download the judgment.

Problems with the "natural" label
The Federation of Organic Dairy Farmers (FOOD Farmers), the umbrella group for organic dairy producers across the country, is concerned about the misleading of consumers by labeling and packaging of dairy products, particularly "natural" labeling. Click here to download the FOOD Farmers press release on the topic.

Research Updates

Sustainable Farm Educators. Northeast SARE periodically looks around the region for articulate, skilled farmers who can go to workshops and conferences that address issues important to other farmers. Could you be one?
Learn more >

Udder Health and Milk Quality on Organic Dairy Farms. The Northeast Organic Farming Association of Vermont and the Vermont Veterinary Medical Association combined energies this past October to provide a workshop for veterinarians covering the National Organic Program’s certification standards for organic livestock production systems with a focus on udder health and milk quality.
MORE >

UNH Welcomes Dr. André F. Brito. The University of New Hampshire has recently added a new staff person to their Organic Dairy Management Team. Learn more about him.

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Interview with Miles McEvoy, new Deputy Administrator of the NOP

Added November 10, 2009. In this interview, you will find that  Miles is very qualified, bringing over 20 years of experience in organic production and certification. His plans for the coming year, which was presented with incredible detail at the National Organic Standards Board Meeting on November 3, 2009, are very encouraging and we look forward to working with him and helping him achieve his ambitious goals (Click here to download Mr. McEvoy’s power point presentation).
 
Farm Bureau,
MOFGA, get MOOMilkCo off to a good start

Added November 10, 2009.Some very encouraging news is that Maine’s Own Organic Milk Company (MOOMilkCo) will be up and running by the end of November! Earlier this year ten organic dairy farms were dropped by HP Hood and were soon to be without a market for their organic milk. The story behind the creation of the MOOMIlkCo includes the valiant, creative and collaborative efforts between the Maine Organic Farmers and Gardeners Association (MOFGA) and the Maine Farm Bureau, with support from the Maine Department of Agriculture. Read more >
 
Stonyfield Farm enters into a partnership with Organic Valley/CROPP Cooperative to take over their milk brand

Added November 10, 2009.The recent partnership between Stonyfield Farm and Organic Valley/CROPP Cooperative [click here for full article] has stirred up a lot of conversations on ODAIRY, and at producer meetings. Spirits are high as there are many producers who are now reassured that they will continue to have a market for their organic milk. We applaud Stonyfield Farm, Organic Valley and HP Hood for their efforts in making this happen.  We cannot forget, however, that there are many HP Hood producers whose contracts will be ending before January 1, 2010 and will be without a market for their milk.

A Summary of the National Organic Standards Board Meeting Nov. 3-5, 2009

Added November 10, 2009. Recently appointed Program administrator, Miles McEvoy, gave a very thorough analysis of where the Program is and what the goals are for the future. (You can view his powerpoint from the NOSB meeting by clicking here.) In addition, there was a thorough discussion of the Animal Welfare Recommendations from NOSB's Livestock Committee. (To read the recommendations in full, click here.) For a full summary of the event by NODPA Executive Director Ed Maltby, click here.

More Than A One-Horse Hitch Is Needed
To Get Us Out Of This Mess

Added November 10, 2009. So, how can we continue to build the market demand for organic dairy products? According to Peter Hardin (The Milkweed), this effort goes beyond organic dairy; the dairy industry as a whole needs to be addressed and there are 4 key areas that need to be addressed. Read more >

WODPA Fall Conference Highlights

Added November 10, 2009. The WODPA Field days took place October 13 & 14 in Twin Falls, Idaho. NODPA Board Member Liz Bawden was able to attend and provided a wonderful summary of the two-day event. Read more >

Heirloom Economy
Added September 14, 2009. In our debates why aren’t we discovering how we got where we are, focusing our efforts on creating a sustainable economy or exploring how the rest of the world lead comfortable lives and safeguard their resources? MORE >

Go Local & Prosper ... In More Ways Than One
Added September 14, 2009. Localism is becoming a strategy to save the farm and the businesses and communities that depend on it. MORE>

COMMENTARY
There Is No Right Way To Become A Farmer ...
Added September 14, 2009. Pat Skogen, an organic dairy farmer in Wisconsin, tells her story of coming late and unexpectedly to farming. MORE >

NODPA’s 9th Annual Field Days And Producer Meeting: A Wrap-Up

Added September 14, 2009.
After 8 years the Annual NODPA Field Days returned to the Stoltzfoos’ family farm, Spring Wood Organic Farm in beautiful Lancaster County, PA with a full educational program under the theme “Practical and Efficient Organic Dairy Farming Practices in Hard Economic Times.” Click here for links to several articles summarizing what took place, and what producers learned.

OTHER ARTICLES RELATED TO FIELD DAYS EVENTS:

Counting the Costs that Count on Your Farm
An article by keynote speaker James Landis. MORE >

Lameness in Organic Dairy Cattle
A great article on lameness by Hugh Karreman, who will speak on the topic of animal health at the Field Days. MORE >

Plant Biodiversity: Livestock Farmacy and Pantry
An article on biodiversity by Jerry Brunetti, which touches on the themes of diversified pasture and hedgerows that will be addressed at the Field Days. MORE >

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Change we can believe in and see!!

Added August 6, 2009. USDA has announced that it will subject the National Organic Program (NOP) to a stringent audit and continued oversight by the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST). MORE >

Opinions and Commentary on Organic Dairy & Beyond

Added August 1, 2009. The last 6 months have seen the world of Organic Dairy turned on its head and, of course, everyone has an opinion on whom or what caused the problem and what a solution might be. Many of these opinions are reflected on the NODPA moderated Odairy listserve and you can find archived summaries of those conversations at http://www.nodpa.com/list_serv.shtm, where you can also sign up for the listserve. We want to share these thoughtful and sometimes humorous commentaries with a wider audience. Click here to view three commentaries: The system is broken – can it be fixed?, an essay by Francis Thicke. An open letter to Stonyfield founders, from the Maine Organic Milk Producers (MOMP). Time to be politically incorrect?, an essay by ODairy regular Kevin Englebert.

Climate Change Ruminations

Added August 1, 2009. In the past year there have been a lot of articles written focusing on green house gas emissions and the impact that cows are making on our environment by burping and defecating. NODPA published a few articles in the July NODPA News sharing what we feel is good information; highlighting the benefits organic management practices, high forage diets, the use of rotational grazing systems on production farms and the disadvantages of liquid manure storage systems. Read the article contributions from Meredith Niles (Climate Policy for Agriculture that Works), Sam Fromartz (The Misguided Science Behind rBGH and Climate Change) and Troy Bishop (The Passing Wind) for some good science, policy, opinion and a chuckle.
Click here for more >

NY Branded Milk!
Added August 1, 2009. An Interview With Dean Sparks of Empire Organics
MORE >

Research initiated to study cattle
health problems facing organic dairy industry in Vermont
Added August 1, 2009. This is the first in a series of NODPA articles describing research efforts underway in Vermont to meet the needs of Organic Dairy Producers.
MORE >

Recent Discussions on ODairy
Added August 1, 2009. Measuring somatic cell counts. Treating an early case of coliform mastitis. Stimulating a cow to calf. Help with a calf scours problem. Dealing with flies. Read more >

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GRAIN MARKET UPDATE
Added August 1, 2009. The latest corn and soybean prices, and grain price trends over the past four years. MORE >

ORGANIC MILK PAY PRICE UPDATE
Added August 1, 2009. New England pay price since 2006, trends in organic fluid milk sales for the past four years, and new data comparing conventional and organic prices.
MORE >

Pay Price And Support Control
Added July 1, 2009. We all knew that the demand for organic milk could not continue to grow at the 20%+ it has over the last three years but the dramatic drop we have experienced this year is unprecedented and unpredictable. To shed some light on the situation we have an article that attempts to compare what the major companies are doing in this new market place. MORE >

GRAIN MARKET UPDATE
Added July 1, 2009
The latest corn and soybean prices, and grain price trends over the past four years. MORE >

ORGANIC MILK PAY PRICE UPDATE
Added July 1, 2009
New England pay price since 2006, trends in organic fluid milk sales for the past four years, and new data comparing conventional and organic prices. MORE >

Organic Initiative Sign-Up
Extended in Some States
Added June 1, 2009. The Natural Resources Conservation Service has given States the option to extend their sign-up period for Organic Initiative funds beyond the initial deadline of May 29th. Learn more >

Milk Quota’s – What should we look for?
Added June 1, 2009. With the introduction of quotas by Organic Valley, we list some areas to look at when considering any proposed quota system from the milk companies.
MORE >

Making the Most of Your Milk Check
What Dairy Farmers Need to Know About Assignments
By Jill E. Krueger, Farmers’ Legal Action Group, Inc.
Added June 1, 2009. MORE > (in PDF Format)

Report from the May 2009
NOSB Meeting
Added June 1, 2009. The National Organic Standards Board met in Washington, D.C. from May 4 – May 6, 2009. Ed Maltby, NODPA Execlutive Director, summarizes the issues addressed at the meeting. MORE >

Job Openings: Director of National Organic Program; Superintendent,
UNH Organic Dairy Research Farm
Added June 1, 2009. Click here to learn more.

Profitability of Organic Dairy, 2007
Added June 1, 2009. The results of an on-going financial analysis of Vermont’s organic dairy sector by UVM and NOFA-VT indicate farms in the study averaged $18,522 net farm earnings, a 0.5% return on owner equity.
Learn more >

Organic Dairy Research and Outreach
at WCROC in Minnesota
Added June 1, 2009. The University of Minnesota will become the first land grant in the Midwest to manage an organic dairy herd that is dedicated to research and education. The growing organic sector in Minnesota will soon benefit from information that is tested by rigorous science. More on this initiative >

Update on Dairy Management
Research at Cal State Chico
Added June 1, 2009. The CSU Chico Organic Dairy Unit is now into its 3rd lactation as a seasonal, managed intensive grazing, organic dairy operation. Learn more >

FOOD Farmers Speak Out on Abuse of the Producer Handler Exemption
Cincinnati May 11, 2009: Kathie Arnold, Rick Segalla and Tony Schilter supported by Dan Fullencamp presented testimony on behalf of the Federation of Organic Dairy Farmers (FOOD Farmers) to the public hearing that was held to consider proposals seeking to amend or remove the producer-handler provisions and revise the exempt plant provisions applicable to all Federal milk marketing orders.

Click here to download the testimony.
Click here to download the Food Farmers' letter.

Puzzled By PI Spikes?
Added May 7, 2009. Things you can do to reduce the count.
MORE >

What's the Value of High Quality Forage?
Added May 7, 2009. The key management factors influencing forage yield and quality, and an economic comparison of 3 forage systems. MORE >

COMMENTARY
Producers Working as Partners
Added May 7, 2009. It is important that producers use collective marketing to achieve a price level that is fair for all involved rather than going it alone and only serving just oneself, says Charlie Johnson, an organic grain producer in South Dakota. MORE >

Recent Discussions on ODairy
Added May 7, 2009. Not surprisingly, the current state of supply and demand in organic dairy and worry about how the spring flush will play out were common threads in discussions this past month. But there were lots of other management and health issues that became the focus of discussion. Read more >

DC Update, April 1, 2009
Access to pasture update, status of new appointees, and the generally positive outlook for organic in Washington. MORE >

PRESS RELEASE, APRIL 1, 2009
June may be Dairy Month ...
... but not for organic family farmers that sell to Horizon Organic, who will see a pay cut of $1/cwt for their milk. NODPA urges consumers to buy more branded organic milk.
MORE >

Thinking Outside The Fence
Added March 31, 2009. Organic Dairy Looks to Robotic Milker to Increase Family Time
Learn more >

Managing Cereal Grains for Forage
Added March 31, 2009. Cereal grains are a versatile crop that can be harvested for forage or grain. MORE >

Nutritional Wisdom of the Body
Added March 31, 2009. Behavior-Based Management for Animal Well-Being. MORE >

Grain Market Update
Added March 31, 2009. Compared to two weeks ago, organic grain and feedstuff prices were steady on light demand and moderate offerings with trade at a near standstill. MORE >

PRESS RELEASE, MARCH 11, 2009
HP Hood and Organic Valley cut
organic family farmers income ...
... and NODPA praises Horizon Organic for honoring their contract with their farmers. MORE >

Organic pay price declines as processors panic over spring flush of milk and declining growth in sales
Added March 6, 2009. An analysis of recent pay price drops by NODPA Executive Director Ed Maltby. Learn more >

Petitions Sent to USDA Requesting End of Producer-Handler Exemption
Added March 6, 2009. Producer-handlers, those vertically integrated businesses that produce and process milk, have been exempt in most Federal Milk Marketing Orders (FMMO) from paying pooling costs that other handlers have been required to pay. That may soon end. More >

Recent Discussions On ODairy
Added March 6, 2009. Sub-clinical hypocalcemia. Bale processors. Dealing with those "deals". These are just a few of the topics addressed recently on ODairy. More >

Update on Pasture Rule and Administration Changes
Added March 6, 2009. Ed Maltby, NODPA Executive Director, reviews the new Obama ag appointments, and provides a quick update on the status of the pasture rule. MORE>

Washington State WIC Program
Rejects Organic Milk. Don't Let This
Go Unchallenged.
Added March 6, 2009. Recently the Washington State WIC Nutrition Program came out with a decision to NOT include organic milk on their list of WIC-approved foods. Learn more about their decision, and NODPA's response.

Grain Market Update
Added March 9, 2009. With spring approaching and a very soft conventional market, producers are selling their inventory at the lowest prices of the year. Learn more.

MILK FEVER
Added January 31, 2009. “It’s all about internal mineral balance!” says Dr. Richard Holliday.
MORE >

Organic pay price declines as processors panic over spring flush of milk and declining growth in sales
Added March 6, 2009. An analysis of recent pay price drops by NODPA Executive Director Ed Maltby. Learn more >

Petitions Sent to USDA Requesting End of Producer-Handler Exemption
Added March 6, 2009. Producer-handlers, those vertically integrated businesses that produce and process milk, have been exempt in most Federal Milk Marketing Orders (FMMO) from paying pooling costs that other handlers have been required to pay. That may soon end. More >

Recent Discussions On ODairy
Added March 6, 2009. Sub-clinical hypocalcemia. Bale processors. Dealing with those "deals". These are just a few of the topics addressed recently on ODairy. More >

Update on Pasture Rule and Administration Changes
Added March 6, 2009. Ed Maltby, NODPA Executive Director, reviews the new Obama ag appointments, and provides a quick update on the status of the pasture rule. MORE>

Washington State WIC Program
Rejects Organic Milk. Don't Let This
Go Unchallenged.
Added March 6, 2009. Recently the Washington State WIC Nutrition Program came out with a decision to NOT include organic milk on their list of WIC-approved foods. Learn more about their decision, and NODPA's response.

Grain Market Update
Added March 9, 2009. With spring approaching and a very soft conventional market, producers are selling their inventory at the lowest prices of the year. Learn more.

Get Step-by-Step Organic Farm
Plan Help in New Workbook
Added January 31, 2009. Transitioning to organic farming? Already switched, but needing to update your farm plan? Get step-by-step help in the Organic Whole Farm Planning Workbook, just released by Ohio State University’s Organic Food and Farming Education and Research (OFFER) Program. MORE >

Recent Discussions On ODairy
Added January 31, 2009. It has certainly been busy on ODairy recently. The discussions began with rat control, and ranged from the feeding of young calves to outwintering, to the best workboots ... to cannabilism in cows. MORE >

POSITION ANNOUNCEMENT:
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, NORTHEAST ORGANIC FARMING ASSOCIATION OF NEW YORK
Posted January 21, 2009. For more information on NOFA-NY and the position, click here. TO APPLY: Email resume and a letter of interest, inclusive of salary requirements, prior to 2/16/09, to: schaskey@peconiclandtrust.org (Current President, NOFA-NY), or Scott Chaskey c/o Quail Hill Farm, PO Box 1268, Amagansett, NY 11930.
Resume reviews will begin immediately.

Access to Pasture Rule:
Win, Lose or Draw for Producers?
Added January 11, 2009. In this final installment in our ongoing coverage of the pasture rule process, NODPA Executive Director Ed Maltby summarizes what's been happening over the past several years. You'll also find a link from this article to comments submitted by farmers around the country. Read more.

Pasture Access Rule Listening
Session Transcripts Posted
Added January 11, 2009. The National Organic Program has posted the transcripts of listening sessions held in December in Pennsylvania, Texas and California on its proposed access to pasture regulation. The transcripts are available as PDF files on the USDA's Agricultural Marketing Service website.

Organic Feed Update
Added January 11, 2009. Trade in organic grain leading up to the holidays was slow with prices running about the same as January 2008 and roughly double that of conventional grain. With corn between $9-9.50 a bushel on the farm there are many rumors of a surplus of corn being held back from trading but nothing has shown in the marketplace and the price for16 and 18% prepared feed has not come down. For more prices, click here.

What Obama Means for Organic
Added January 11, 2009. There are hints that his ag secretary Tom Vilsack may have an open mind to alternative viewpoints. A column by Sam Fromartz. Read more.

Dehorning Dairy Cattle With Genetics

Added January 11, 2009. Looking at the economic advantages with polled dairy cattle

. More >

From Our 2008 Field Days:
Added November 8, 2008
Ed Maltby, NODPA's Executive Director, summarizes what happened at the Field Days. MORE >

NODPA Field Days 2008 Photo Gallery
The Field Days, as usual, was a great gathering of farmers who met to discuss politics, marketing and production. In addition, over 50 people joined Klaas and Mary-Howell Martens to learn more about the Marrowstem Kale (Bonanza Variety) trial taking place at Bejo Seeds, take a tour of the Lakeview Organic Grain facility, spend time at the Martens’ 1400 acre farm, and visit some of the surrounding corn fields that will be soon harvested for grain. Scroll through photos of the event.

Latest edition of WODPA's Newsletter
Now Available Online
Western Organic Dairy Producers Alliance publishes a newsletter, Integrity. The December issue is now available in PDF format. Click here to download it.

Feed Price Dropping Slowly
Added December 1, 2008. With only about 80% of corn harvest complete, prices are steadying at November 2007 prices, averaging around $9 per bushel. There are reports of producers not selling or “hording” grain to see which way the economy is headed and what the final harvest volume will be. Availability and quality is always an issue. Check out the latest feed prices >

Organic Ag & The US Farm Bill: Some Insights
Added November 14, 2008. OTA and The Organic Institute, in partnership with the National Center for Appropriate Technologies (NCAT, home of the ATTRA project), Organic Farming Research Foundation (OFRF), and the Midwest Organic and Sustainable Education Service (MOSES), presented a one-day educational conference, "Growing U.S. Organic Agriculture: Accessing the 2008 Farm Bill," at the Indiana University - Purdue University Indianapolis campus on November 12. At that conference Richard Mathews gave a presentation on how the program works and the goals for the program. For a PDF of his presentation, click here.

Organic Grain Update
Added November 8, 2008. The USDA Economic Research Service (ERS) recently released a new publication, Using Vertically Coordinated Relationships to Overcome Tight Supply in the Organic Market. Here is a link to that outlook report: http://www.ers.usda.gov/Publications/VGS/2008/10Oct/VGS32901/

For updated pricing for organic feed on the NODPA web site,
CLICK HERE.

NODPA SE Field Days Photos
Added October 8, 2008. The organic dairy community gave Arden Landis a great send-off with the pasture walk at his farm on September 18. The weather was great, the land beautiful and over 100 attendees appreciated the work that Arden and Caroline have put into building an excellent grazing operation. There will be a more complete article in the next NODPA News, but you can scroll through photos of the event.

National Organic Coalition opposes proposed Sustainability Standards from Leonardo Institute
Added September 27, 2008. The National Organic Coalition is deeply concerned about the adverse impact that a sustainable agriculture label will have on the urgent need to increase our nation’s organic acreage and production practices. View their letter to the Leonardo Institute, which NODPA has signed on to. (in PDF format)

The Latest East & Midwest Organic Grain & Hay Prices
Added September 14, 2008. The wheat market is seeing a bit of weakening as many users are quickly filling their needs after a good harvest. No new crop soybean contracts were reported as producers are still in a wait and see mode, especially with the cooler, wet weather. Some big volumes of new crop corn contracts are being sold from $10.00 per bushel to $10.75 per bushel. There just seems to be a lot of uncertainty in that market. Read more, including graphs of price for soybeans and corn for 2008 ….

Funding Opportunities
Research and planning grants in the Northeast and North Central US
Added September 14, 2008. Click here for a listing of funding opportunities in the Northeast and North Central US.

Recent ODairy Discussions
Topics recently ranged from how to wrap rained-on forages to what kinds of tests for cows before purchase. MORE >

September NODPA News Now
Available To Members For Download in PDF
The latest edition of NODPA's informative, 40-page by-monthly print newsletter is now available for download in PDF format to all NODPA members and newsletter subscribers. Click here to download it now!

The Latest East & Midwest
Organic Grain & Hay Prices
Added September 5, 2008. Flood, drought, hurricane, ethanol, high world prices – any wonder it’s difficult to keep up with how much your winter feed will cost. At NODPA we at least try to keep you informed. Click here for more.

RESOURCE

European Union Launches Promotional Campaign for Organic Food and Farming
The European Commission announced recently that it is launching a new Organic Farming Campaign for the European Union. Under the campaign slogan: "Organic farming. Good for nature, good for you," the promotional campaign aims to inform consumers about the meaning and benefits of organic farming and food production. The campaign will focus on increasing consumer awareness and recognition of organic products. As part of the initiative, a new multilingual website for organic farming provides an electronic "toolbox" that offers marketing materials in 22 languages free of charge in order to promote organic production and farming.

The Latest East & Midwest
Organic Grain & Hay Prices
Added August 3, 2008. Organic grain farmers are talking, but there's not much action yet: They are assessing the market but most don’t want to do anything yet as they are waiting to see what the crop will bring. There was some trading in new crop corn sales and some new crop spring wheat and hard red winter wheat sales, but no drop in prices. Availability will be the next big question. MORE >

So You Want To Learn More About Organic Dairy?
Added August 3, 2008. Organic dairy has been growing rapidly over the past 10 years and with that, a number of educational opportunities have evolved. Karen Hills, Crop and Soil Technician at the University of Vermont has compiled a very nice summary of opportunities from degree programs, non-degree programs, and internships. Contact us at NODPA if you know of other opportunities that should be added to this list! Learn more >

Recent Organic Research
On Organics & Food Supply
Added July 29, 2008. Below you'll find links to recent organic studies. The articles focus on "Can organic feed the world?" and the economics of organic transition. All are posted on our web site in PDF format. To open or download a research article, just click on one of the links below:

• Organic agriculture and the global food supply
  Research finds that organic methods could produce enough food on a global per capita basis to sustain the current human population, and potentially an even larger population, without increasing the agricultural land base.
• Can organic agriculture feed the world?
  A forum discussion on the same topic as in the first article, above, by the same authors, with response and commentary by others.
• Summary of Economic Studies of Organic Dairy Farming in Wisconsin, New England, and Quebec
  Research summary tries to answer 3 questions for farmers considering organic: What are the rewards? How long will it take to get them? What will it cost?
• Transition to Organic Cropping Systems Under Risk
  An analysis of the risks, returns and optimal adoption strategies for a representative Minnesota farm switching from conventional to organic cropping systems.
• New Michigan Global Yield Comparison Study: Challenges Critics Who Claim Organic Farmers Can’t Feed the World
• Land Stewardship Project Myth Buster #21:
  Sustainable farming CAN feed the world

More Organic Milk Sought in Northeast
Added July 29, 2008. The word from all the major organic dairy buyers on what they're looking for at this time. Farmers should be sure to have a market secured before beginning the 12 month herd transition. Here's contact information from buyers that will help you secure your markets. MORE

So You Want To Learn More About Organic Dairy?
Added July 21, 2008. For those in search of more directed educational opportunities, there are several options to choose from including university programs, workshops, and internships. Learn more >

Price & Availability of Corn & Forage: How should producers prepare for the Fall?
Added July 5, 2008. So: What is affecting price and availability? In general, people are assuming that tonnage of grain will be short this year and much of the corn that is for sale is, in a sense, being set aside to wait and see. Other factors affecting price include speculators and Hedge Fund investors who are joining the commodity market as they exploit the uncertainty and short fall in supply against rising markets. Read Lisa McCrory’s article for a full analysis.

The Latest East & Midwest Grain & Hay Prices
Analysis, data and some advice from Iowa State University on replanting after the flood, plus the latest numbers on East and Midwest grain and hay prices, and a chart showing cost changes over time. MORE >

Recent ODairy Discussions
Added July 5, 2008. Will consumers change (or not change) their purchasing decisions in the marketplace driven by the tightening economy? Is there any research that would support that transition to organic production does not necessarily mean a drop in milk production? Plus, lots of tidbits and advice: bull calves become sexually active at 7-8 months of age, and how to stop diarrhea. Summarized by NODPA Board Secretary Liz Bawden. MORE >

PRESS RELEASE: June 18, 2008
NODPA stands for a living wage for organic dairy farm families
NODPA appeals to all processors to listen to their farmers and work with them to increase their base farmgate pay price by a total of 60¢ a gallon to move towards family farm profitability. We also support a temporary moratorium on transitioning livetock farms to organic. To learn more, and check out our new ad promoting this issue, click here.

The Price of Feed
June 20, 2008: Analysis--Grains and oilseeds lower on profit taking and outside markets. Plus the latest numbers on East and Midwest grain and hay prices, and a chart showing cost changes over time. MORE >

Coalition of Organic Groups Presses for Immediate Publication of Pasture Access and Livestock Origin Rules
June 16, 2008: NODPA and the National Organic Coalition joins with Federation of Organic Dairy Farmers, WhiteWave Foods (Horizon Organic), HP Hood (Stonyfield brand), Organic Valley, Stonyfield Farm, Humboldt Dairy, Organic Choice, Pastureland Cooperative and Organic Dairy Farmers Cooperative to urge USDA to publish the access to pasture and origin of dairy livestock standards immediately. We've updated this, with a fuller history of the initiative.
Learn more >

The Retail Food Dollar and How Farmers Receive Their Share
June 7, 2008: What portion of the organic milk retail price goes to the farmer, and what will it take to keep farmers profitable for the longterm? Enjoy this fascinating look at the complexities of the retail organic dairy market. MORE >

DC Update, June 6, 2008
More roadblocks to pasture access and livestock origin rules. Farm Bill: back to the President soon for another veto? Attention turns to appropriation bills. MORE >

The Price of Feed
June 6, 2008: The latest numbers on East and Midwest grain and hay prices, plus a charting of cost changes over time. MORE >

DC Update, June 1, 2008
The Farm Bill is very close to becoming law despite its many clerical and political missteps. See what everyone is saying about it. MORE >

NOSB Update, June 1, 2008
While the Congress was on vacation, the volunteers that serve on the hardworking citizen advisory National Organic Standards Board were at work trying to make sense of the National Organic Program ... from adding Okra to the national list, TAP reviews and organically certified protein for fish.  MORE >

Comment on access to pasture and origin of livestock
A letter from NODPA to the NOP addresses publication of the access to pasture rule and the publication of an origin of livestock rule. MORE >

DC Update, May 23, 2008
Farm Bill Updates, and NOP dairy update. MORE >

The Price of Feed
Added May 21, 2008. The latest organic grain and hay prices in the East and Midwest, plus a pay price/retail price comparison chart for organic milk. MORE >

DC Update, May 16, 2008
The Farm Bill is final on the President's desk, awaiting a veto and then a certain override of that veto. Here are some of highlights related to organic and sustainable agriculture. MORE >

Realistic Expectations: What Are They?
Let's ALL get real about our expecations of price & profit, says Darlene Coehoorn, MODPA President. MORE >

Reading the NOP Leaves
What does the recent reorganization at the National Organic Program mean for organic farmers? Samuel Fromartz speculates. MORE >

DC Update as of May 9
Is the Farm Bill battle over? Learn more >

The Price of Feed
Added May 9, 2008. The latest organic grain and hay prices in the East and Midwest, plus a pay price/retail price comparison chart for organic milk. MORE >

DC Update as of May 1
Congress passes two-week farm bill extension. National Organic Coalition and National Campaign for Sustainable Agriculture meeting in Baltimore later this month. National Organic Standards Board meets just afterward, same location. Learn more >

More Organic Milk Sought in Northeast
Added May 4, 2008. The latest word from processors seeking organic milk. MORE >

Press Release: April 28, 2008
HP Hood LLC refuses to address increase in costs of production for their organic family farms and demands money back for a one month overpayment of 17 cents a gallon.

Press Release: April 30, 2008
HP Hood LLC refuses to address increase in costs of production for their organic family farms
Also demands money back for a one month overpayment of 17 cents a gallon. MORE >

A Quick Update from DC re Pasture Rule
April 25, 2008: The access to pasture rule is moving up the review hierarchy in Washington. Click here to learn more about the details.

Interviews with Ed Maltby and Gary Hirschberg On Boston's WBZ Radio
April 22, 2008: WBZ 1030 in Boston ran two interviews on organic dairy. NODPA director Ed Maltby provided the farmer perspective on high fuel costs and their impact on farmer profits, while Stoneyfield's Gary Hirschberg spoke to the impact of these costs on organic businesses.

Click here to listen to Ed's interview.
Click here to listen to Gary's interview.

Why Organic Dairy Farmers Should Learn To Love High Organic Grain Prices
Kevin Engelbert argues that, instead of condemning organic crop producers for finally getting parity price, we should all celebrate. Added April 4, 2008.

ACTION ALERT: Posted March 28, 2008
Stop the Attack on Public Health and the Environment in the Farm Bill
Proposed Farm Bill language would restrict USDA’s ability to prohibit the use of pesticides in certain conservation programs. MORE >

Profitability for Organic Dairy Farms for 2006
Added March 28, 2008. The organic dairy sector has become a haven for smaller family operated farms, but they have not escaped the situation where rising feed, fuel, and other expenses continue to chip away at their profitability. Click here for more on this detailed analysis by Bob Parsons.

NODPA Press Release Inspires Spirited Dialogue On Production Costs and Pay Price
March 14, 2008. On March 7, the NODPA board and members of the FOOD Farmers organizing committee published a press release on the Gristmill web site calling attention to rising production costs for organic farmers--and the limited response to this crisis from processors. The press release brought a response from Gary Hirschberg of Stoneyfield Farm, and a final response from NODPA Executive Director Ed Maltby. To learn more about the issue, and to browse the back-and-forth responses, click here.

Pennsylvania Pasture Lab Update
March 14, 2008. The deadline for budget requests to the House Ag Appropriations sub-committee--which decides the future of the pasture lab--is next week. Revisit our article on this topic and send in your letters of support! MORE >

• Who or What Sets the Organic Milk Farmgate Price? - by Ed Maltby, January 2008
  
• From the NODPA Desk - by Ed Maltby, January 2008
  New Tools for the Organic Dairy Farmer - by Liz Bawden, January 2008
  
• Pennsylvania's Milk Cover-up - and Reconsideration - by Samuel Fromartz, January 2008
• The AgroFuels Craze - by John Kinsman, January 2008
• Big Brother in the Barnyard - by John Peck and John Kinsman, January 2008
• Livestock Issues Discusses at the NOSB Meeting, November 2007 - by Emily Brown Rosen, January 2008
• What Makes a Cow Organic? A Tortured History - by Samuel Fromartz, November 2007
• From the NODPA Desk - by Ed Maltby, Executive Director, November 2007
• Organic Dairy Policy and Production Trends - by Kathie Arnold, November 2007
• FOOD Farmers Sends Letter to USDA Protesting Consent Agreement with Aurora - by Kathie Arnold, November 2007
• Thought for the Day: Eat More Pasture - Do Less Work - by Ed Maltby, November 2007
• Organic Dairy Processors & Farmers Meet to Protect Organic integrity - by Ed Maltby, November 2007
• Organic Dairy Policy and Production Trends - by Kathie Arnold, November 2007
• Organic Call to Action on Farm Bill - by Samuel Fromartz, November 2007
• Perspectives on the Organic Grain Supply, Q&A compiled - by Kathie Arnold, November 2007
• The Organic Summit - by Kathie Arnold, November 2007
• Measuring 30% DM from Pasture - by Lisa McCrory, May 2007
• Organic Dairy Policy and Production Trends - by Kathie Arnold, May 2007
• NOSB Nixes Animal Cloning in Organic - by Kathie Arnold, May 2007
• A Farm Bill Year Calls for Farmer Activism - by Maureen Knapp, May 2007
• Grain Grain where's the Organic Grain? - by Kathie Arnold, May 2007
• Grand Opening: California State University's New Organic Dairy Program, May 2007
• NOSB Pasture symposium.... by Ed Maltby, May 2006
• NOP issues draft rewrite on Dairy replacements - by Kathie Arnold, May 2006
• Results of NOPDA survey on Organic Dairy Replacements - by Kathie Arnold, May 2006
• What is NOPDA and how is it Organized - by Ed Maltby, May 2006